Disability Voter Registration Week 2016

WHEREAS, the right to vote is an important civil liberty that helps contribute to the health of the American political system and the people who participate in it; and

WHEREAS, there are more than 50 million people with disabilities of all ages who live in communities throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, the disability community has a critical interest in policies enacted at local, state, and national levels that effect the integration of people with disabilities into our communities; and

WHEREAS, voting is one way for the disability community to participate in local, state, and national policymaking; and

WHEREAS, getting the disability community involved in public policy is essential to ensure that policies meet the needs of people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth is committed to a comprehensive effort to support Virginians with disabilities – including defending voting rights, ensuring that Virginia is welcoming to all people, maintaining a world class public education system for all students, and building a more diverse economy that creates broad-based prosperity; and

WHEREAS, Virginians can register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles or their local general registrar’s office, by filling out a paper application and mailing it to their local registration office, or completing an online form on the Department of Elections’ website (vote.elections.virginia.gov); and

WHEREAS, Virginians can learn about voter registration and voting accommodations for people with special needs on the Department of Elections’ website (elections.virginia.gov/registration/voters-with-special-needs); and

WHEREAS, in July 2016, people with disabilities and their supporters will celebrate the 26th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and

WHEREAS, the American Association of People with Disabilities and members of the disability rights community are organizing a National Disability Voter Registration Week July 11th – July 15th;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terence R. McAuliffe, do hereby recognize July 11-15, 2016, as DISABILITY VOTER REGISTRATION WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.